1940 - War, destruction and a new beginning.

Conscription into the military and destruction by an air raid.

Survival in the air raid shelter.

Only 7 weeks later on 31.07.1943, MATADOR was completely destroyed by an air raid on Remscheid.

During the war years, Oskar Kissling was called up as an officer and could only devote himself to the company intermittently.

On 04.06.1943, at the age of only 48, Oskar Kissling died completely unexpectedly after a heart attack.

Only 7 weeks later on 31.07.1943, MATADOR was completely destroyed by an air raid on Remscheid.

Heinrich Kissling and his family survived the Remscheid attack in an air raid shelter that had been built on a slope above the company buildings and still exists today.
Grete Kissling, Oskar Kissling's widow, and her two 7-year-old children Jürgen and Karla (both born on 08.05.1936) left Remscheid and moved to Caldern in Hesse for 4 years.
In 1945, after the end of the war, Heinrich Kissling began to rebuild the company at the age of 78 and was able to complete the construction by his 80th birthday at the end of 1946.

1943: Unexpected death of Oskar Kissling. 

1943: Big bomb attack in Remscheid - total destruction of the MATADOR premises.

1947: First modest catalogue after world War II.

1947: Process of denazification.

Congratulations from the tool association to Heinrich Kissling on his 80th birthday.

Heinrich Kissling's expression of thanks in perfect handwriting.

Learn more about the history.

After the reconstruction, the time of a long expansion phase began.



MATADOR is one of the pioneers of the German tool industry. Since 1900 we have been producing quality hand tools "around the screw" at our site in Remscheid, the centre of the German tool industry. Our core competences are spanners, sockets, torque and pneumatic tools as well as modular systems. For screws from 3.2 - 230 mm. Over 4,500 catalogue items. Proven millions of times. Available in >70 countries. For ambitious users in industry, trade and automotive. MATADOR is an accredited initial supplier to leading automotive groups, including Audi, Bosch, Ford, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Volvo and many others.